Shell



p 1 393%. c. J. MANVILLE 2J72 SHELL Filed Jan. 15, 1937 INVENTOR. k7

amzwy Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNETED STATES FA? 1' @iUFi Q E SHELL Mich.

Application January 15, 1937, Serial No. 120,658

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in shells for use in gas machine guns, or similar members utilizing tear gas or similar material, and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a shell capable of use with a minimum of resulting bodily injury; second, to provide a shell adapted for use by guardsmen and law-enforcing ofiicers in civil disorders and similar occurrences; third,'to provide a shell utilizing gas or similar material with means for accomplishing eflicient thermal dispersion through the gas or similar material; fourth, to provide a shell utilizing tear gas or similar material with a portion adapted to be more easily ruptured than the remaining portions of the shell to allow escape of the gas or similar material and to prevent any portions of the shell being explosively separated therefrom with an effect similar to that of shrapnel; fifth, to provide a shell adapted for long range use and having a maximum capacity for storage of gas therein with a minimum overall size; sixth, to provide a shell with 'a tubular member constructed of paper or similar material and hermetically sealed at its ends with cap members of metal or similar material; and seventh, to provide a shell utilizing a projectile having a charge of tear gas or similar material with explosive material extending substantially throughout the total length of the charge of tear gas or gas of similar nature to cause simultaneous heating of the total charge of tear gas or similar material.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a gas machine gun with a shell being fired therefrom; Fig. 2, a side view of a shell assembly; Fig. 3, an end view of the shell assembly disclosed in Fig. 2; Fig. 4:. a side view of the projectile of the shell assembly; Fig. 5, an end view of the projectile disclosed in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, an end view of the projectile disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. '7, an enlarged end View of the shell assembly disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 8, a sectional view of the shell assembly taken on the line 8-B, Fig. '7; Fig. 9, an enlarged partial sectional view of the fuse and wad members at the base of the projectile, said enlarged partial section being taken on a line indi cated at B-B, Fig. '7; and Fig. 10, a side view of a projectile after it has been exploded to release the tear gas or similar material therefrom.

Similarnumerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The shell assembly A comprises the housing assembly B and the projectile assembly C. The

projectile housing B comprises the base or end member l which is provided with a cylindrical portion '2 which is adapted to enter the body or tubular member 3, the base i being provided with the neck or undercut portion 4 into which an end portion of the tubular member or body 3 is spun or crimped as at '5, thus securely fastening the base or end member l to the tubular member or body 3 in a very economical manner and which under numerous explosive tests does not develop any separation or swelling between the base or end member l and the tubular member or body Oneend of the base member I is provided with the recess .55 which connects with the relatively small opening orxpassage i which-extends there through to the opposite side of the end member 9, the end member -l, together with the tubular member v3 and the projectile assembly C forming a chamber '8 therebetween for receiving the powder charge 8 which provides the propelling power for the projectile assembly C.

The primer or priming cap it! is assembled the recess 6 of the base l and is adapted to be ignited by percussion which is accomplished in the firing mechanism of the gas machine gun assembly Din a conventional manner, the ignition of theprimer l0 firing through the'passage to ignitetheexplosive charge of powder 9.

The charge of powder 9 may be varied in accordance-with the distance or range required of the projectile assembly 0.

The base -I and the tubular member 3 will be preferably made of brass or'similar material and the primer it is "a conventional or standard part in shells used as ammunition'for gas machine guns or similar firing arms.

The projectile assembly C comp ises the end closure or cap-members l l and E2, the end mem ber ll being utilized as a'base member of projectile assembly C while the end member l2 is'utilized as the forward or nose end member of the projectile assembly C.

The main body of the projectile assembly C is formed by the tubular member 53 which is constructed of paper, cardboard, or similar material,

which extends within the end members l l and E2 and is hermetically sealed thereto, the project le assembly C being passed through a die member press the end members in close association with the tubular member 3 to hermetically seal the interior of tithe projectile assembly C, a glue material being used to further secure and seal the members II and l2 on and over the ends of the tubular member 13, the tubular member l3 being substantially of the same diameter as the end ture or opening l4 through which extends the fuse member or housing l5 which is filled with explosive material l6 and which is adapted to be ignited when the charge of powder 9 is ig-' nited by the primer Ill.

The housing portion of the fuse member [5 is of tubular construction and extends'through the wad or disc member I! which is secured adjacent the outer side of the end member I I by spinning over the end portion of the housing [5 as at it, Figs. 4a, 8 and 9, the wad or disc member 57 being preferably constructed of paper, cardboard, or similar material.

The fuse member 55 is retained longitudinally in one direction by the thimble or bushing 20 which is provided with the cylindrical portion 2! which closely fitsaround the outside of the fuse member 55 and is suitably secured thereto by a press fit, soldering, or similar'means, the bushing 20 being further provided with the tapered portion 22 which terminates in the flange 23 for engaging an inner surface of the end member l I, thus providing a stop member for retaining the fuse member [5 longitudinally in one direction and for absorbing longitudinal reactions developed in the spinning operation as at H]. I The end member 12 is provided with the wad member 24 which is constructed'of paper, card board, or similar material, and with sufiicient flexibility or deformable characteristics so as to enable it to be pressed into the end member 12 to form an inner lining therein as disclosed in Fig. 8, the wad member 24 further forming a suitable member for engaging an end of the powder tube 25, which telescopes over the thimble or bushing 26 with its end surface adjacent the flange 23 of the 'thimble'or bushing 20, the other end of the powder tube 25 engaging the wad member 2 3 which acts as a stop member therefor and prevents the body or tube member !3 from deforming at its outer end and crowding into the end member l2 when the end member 12 is pressed and secured on to the nose end of the body or tubular member [3. If desired the wad member 24 may be constructed of lead or similar material to add weight to the nose end of the projectile assembly C and to enable it to have a truer flight.

It is to be noted that the powder tube 25 is thus assembled over the fuse member l5 and extends for substantially the full length of the projectile assembly C and with the powder tube 25 filled with powder 26 this positions the powder 265 for substantially the full length of the projectile assembly C, and when exploded causes the projectile assembly C to burst simultaneously substantially from one end of its ends to the other and provides a perfect thermal dispersion of the heat of the explosion to all parts of the tear gas or similar material 21 which is assembled and packed tightly all around the powder tube 25 within the projectile assembly C, the tear gas or similar material 2'! being chloracetophenone (tear gas), which is the form of a fine crystal mixed with powder, although it is to be understood that both chloracetophenone (tear gas), chemically designated as ON, or nauseating gas, chemically designated as DM, or any similar gases may be used.

The perfect thermal dispersion accomplished in my shell thus enables the heat from the exploded powder to be distributed to all parts of the tear gas crystals or similar material 21, thus developing the maximum efiiciency of the pro- Jectile assembly C.

It is to be noted that the wad or disc member I 7 will make a close fit between the projectile assembly C and the body or member 3, thus adding distance to the flight of the projectile as sembly C, the wad or disc I! further acting as an insulator between the end member II to protect the end member ll from the excessive heat of the propelling powder charge 9, thus eliminating pre-ignition of the projectile assembly C.

It is to be especially noted that the body or tubular member I3 of the projectile assembly C is constructed of a material which is much softer and more easily ruptured than the material of the end members I l and II which are preferably made of metal or similar material, the end member l2 being provided with a rounded end 28 to provide a nose construction for the projectile assembly C.

The construction of the tubular member l3 thus renders it readily rupturable and thus allows my shell assembly A to be used as a long range gas shell with minimum hazards relative to bodily injury, and thus further enables my shell assembly to be used by guardsmen, and other law-enforcing oihcers, in handling civil disorders,

and in similar circumstances, without criticism,

and without fatalities arising therefrom.

Also it is to be noted that my invention thus provides an efiicient protection in the handset any person and one that avoids public criticism as well as fatal mistakes due to mistaken identity, and also provides an ideal means for residents in their homes to combat holdups and burglaries, the gas used therein being adapted to attain any desired degree of disability on the part of the burglar or similar criminal.

In operation, the tubular member E 3, together with the end member ll therefor is secured to the fuse member !5 and the wad member I! is assembled with the powder tube 25 telescoping over the fuse member l5, after which the tear gas crystals or powder 21 is packed tightly all around the powder tube 25, and then the end member I2, together with its wad member 24, is hermetically sealed to the tubular member l3 so that the end of the powder tube 25 engages the wad 24.

Then the powder charge 9 is placed within the housing assembly B to provide a primed shell, and then the projectile assembly C is inserted or pressed into the housing assembly B by a light hand or press fit against the powder charge 57, the powder charge if being varied in accordance with the distance requirements of the propelled flight of the projectile assembly C. Now the shell assembly A is inserted in the barrel 29 of the gas machine gun assembly D, the handle 39 of which is grasped by the hand of the operator, and by operating the firing mechanism thereof, said firing mechanism of the gas machine gun will ignite the primer ill by percussion which will in turn ignite the fuse it, which in turn ignites the powder 26 and explodes the powder tube 25 and the tubular member i3, this explosion resulting due to the relatively light or weak structure of the powder tube 25 and the tubular member 53, the tube member I 3 being ruptured to allow the tear gas crystals and powders 2? to be expelled and dispersed as a gas over a relatively large territory.

The projectile assembly C after being ruptured is disclosed in Fig. 10, in which the edges 32 are disclosed as being the vulnerable place of rupture instead of the metal parts II or l2, thus eliminating any possibilities of bodily injury and yet efficiently and efiectively controlling any civil disorders, riots, burglaries or similar situations.

I claim:

1. A projectile for dispersion of dispersible material comprising a rupturable non-shattering tubular container, an axially arranged explosive charge therein, a charge of said dispersible material surrounding said explosive charge, in said container, metallic means for closing the ends of said container, one of said means including a time fuse for exploding said explosive charge, both of said means including lining material to prevent contact of said charges with said metal and means cooperating with said metallic means constructed and arranged to maintain the explosive charge in its axial position.

2. In a tear gas shell a tubular container of fibrous impervious material, a smaller axially arranged tubular container therein, thus providing an annular chamber, closure means for one end of said outer container, said closure means ineluding a bushing adapted to enter and locate the inner container, explosive material in said inner container, dispersible material in said annular chamber, a time fuse in said bushing and exposed to said explosive material and to the outside of said closure means, and additional closure means for the other ends of said containers.

3. In a tear gas shell a tubular container of fibrous impervious material, a smaller axially arranged tubular container therein, thus providing an annular chamber, metallic closure means for one end of said outer container, said closure means including a bushing adapted to enter and locate the inner container, explosive material in said inner container, dispersible material in said annular chamber, a time fuse in said bushing and exposed to said explosive material and to the outside of said closure means, additional metallic closure means for the other ends of said containers, and means for preventing contact of said metallic closure means with said dispersible materials.

CHARLES J. MANVILLE. 

